October 26, 2020
Dear UC Santa Barbara Students,
UC Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara County have reported significant increases in positive COVID-19 cases in Isla Vista since the start of the quarter. These increases, if sustained, will affect winter quarter planning as well as Santa Barbara County’s ability to increase certain business operations.
As part of our efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community and in Santa Barbara County and to help public health officials better understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in the Isla Vista community, the University is offering asymptomatic COVID-19 testing at no charge to all UC Santa Barbara students who are living in Isla Vista or near the campus starting Tuesday, October 27, through Friday, October 30.
Students living in or near Isla Vista are strongly encouraged to make appointments at our Loma Pelona or Calaveras testing facilities as soon as possible through the UCSB Testing Patient Portal. After October 30, students living in Isla Vista are still eligible to receive free asymptomatic testing at the Santa Barbara County sites at the Goleta Community Center or in the Isla Vista Theater by making appointments at https://publichealthsbc.org/testing/ or calling (888) 634-1123.
Students with symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been in close contact with persons who have tested positive for COVID-19 should call Student Health at (805) 893-7129 to make an appointment and should NOT come to Loma Pelona or Calaveras asymptomatic testing facilities.
Undergraduates living in campus housing or coming to campus for instruction or work are still required to participate in weekly mandatory testing.
We have included additional information about the testing program and links at the end of this message.
We strongly urge all of our students living in Isla Vista or with contacts in Isla Vista to be tested this week, and once again we implore you to wear facial coverings in public, physically distance, and observe all public health orders, including the prohibition of social gatherings beyond those you live with.
Please help us protect one another as well as our friends, family, and neighbors as we prepare for the possibility of increased campus activities for the winter quarter. Your actions affect our entire community.
Sincerely,
Garry Mac Pherson
Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services
Stu Feinstein
Professor, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Coordinator, UC Santa Barbara COVID-19 Testing
Vejas Skripkus, M.D.
Executive Director, Student Health
Asymptomatic Testing Program Q&A
What kind of COVID-19 test is this?
- The University is currently using sensitive RT-PCR tests to provide our community with tests and results at no charge to the individual.
- Tests are self-administered using a nasal swab, with a healthcare personnel present to offer individualized instruction. (General nasal swab instructions can be viewed here.)
- The confidential results will be available through the UCSB Testing Patient Portal, generally within 48 hours. Students who test positive for COVID-19 will be contacted by the campus’s COVID-19 Response Team with instructions for isolation and treatment.
What if I have COVID-19 symptoms or I am living in the area and want to be tested, but not coming to campus?
- COVID-19 testing for students with symptoms or recent exposure to a positive case is available at Student Health at no charge. Call (805) 893-7129 for testing appointments. PLEASE DO NOT GO TO CALAVERAS OR LOMA PELONA TESTING FACILITIES IF YOU ARE SYMPTOMATIC.
- UC Santa Barbara students can also receive free asymptomatic campus testing through Santa Barbara County at the Goleta Community Center. Schedule online at https://publichealthsbc.org/testing/ or phone (888) 634-1123.
- UCSB has worked with Santa Barbara County to offer additional free testing at the IV Theater November 6 and 7 by appointment or walk-in: https://publichealthsbc.org/testing/.
How do I make an appointment?
- To make your appointment, log on to the UCSB Testing Patient Portal using your UCSB NetID and password. Select “Appointments” and then select “COVID-19 Services.” Select “I need to schedule my weekly COVID-19 testing” and answer the questions. Select an available date and time and click “Continue.” Confirm your appointment date and time and then click “Schedule.” Note: You must click “Schedule” or your appointment will not be confirmed. Also, be sure to add the appointment time and location to your calendar.
- You will receive an email reminder 24 hours prior to your appointment. If you have opted-in to receive text messages, a text reminder will be sent to you an hour prior to your appointment.
- Appointments are made in 5-minute intervals, and the time on-site is generally less than 15 minutes.
- Before making an appointment for COVID testing, it is necessary to make sure your local address is included in Gold.
Where can I go to be tested?
The following testing sites are open by appointment for asymptomatic students from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Who should I contact if I have questions about on campus testing?
- For questions regarding our testing programs, please contact the Campus COVID-19 Response Team at ucsb-covid19@ucsb.edu or (805) 893-3113.
